St Croix Penguin Colony Crashes By 92% In Just A Decade

The African penguin colony on St Croix Island in Algoa Bay has suffered a devastating decline, dropping from approximately 8,500 breeding pairs in 2016 to just 680 in 2026, prompting renewed calls for scientific research and stronger protection of the marine environment.

The scale of the crisis was highlighted las Saturday (10 October) during the African Penguin Awareness Day hosted by Algoa Bay Conservation. The day was used as an awareness and fundraising event at The Boardwalk Hotel and Casino in Gqeberha.

The conservation group used a map of St Croix Island filled with blank penguin illustrations to represent the colony’s losses. Visitors who purchased raffle tickets for R50 were invited to colour in a penguin, symbolising the restoration of a breeding pair to the island.

According to Ronell Friend, the organisation’s leading scientist and spokesperson, the colony has lost about 92% of its breeding pairs over the last decade. Friend attributed much of the decline to ship-to-ship bunkering, an operation in which fuel is transferred between vessels at sea. However, the precise contribution of bunkering to the colony’s decline requires further scientific investigation.

“Over a period of 10 years we lost 92% of the colony, mainly because of ship-to-ship bunkering. We have less than 700 breeding pairs left,” said Friend, adding that the proposed research was aimed at establishing stronger scientific evidence about the impact of the activity on African penguins and the wider marine ecosystem surrounding the island.

Algoa Bay Conservation also plans to sponsor a master’s degree research project at Nelson Mandela University next year to investigate the environmental pressures affecting the colony. Friend said the organisation needed reliable scientific evidence to strengthen its calls for the protection of African penguins and their habitat.

The research is intended to examine the effects of ship-to-ship bunkering on the penguins and the broader marine environment, providing evidence that could inform conservation measures and environmental decision-making. St. Croix Island forms part of the Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area and has historically been a major breeding site for African penguins.

The species is classified as critically endangered, reflecting the severe threats facing its survival. The loss of breeding colonies is a major concern because it reduces the species’ capacity to recover.

Although the conservation group has identified bunkering as a major concern, establishing the extent of its contribution requires careful research into other possible pressures affecting the penguins, including food availability, breeding success and wider changes in the marine environment.

The awareness event was aimed at educating the public about the penguins’ plight while raising funds for research.

Friend said the response exceeded the organisation’s expectations, with children and adults contributing money and taking time to learn about the crisis.

The group thanked The Boardwalk for providing space for the event, The Function Warehouse for supplying stands and 3C’s Tuckshop for assisting with transport.

The event was also supported by members of the Algoa Bay Conservation team, including Thomas Stone and Rochelle Shepherd, who helped engage visitors, and Friend.

The fundraising campaign includes a raffle, offering a boat tour in Algoa Bay worth R4,000, sponsored by Raggy Charters – Marine-Eco Cruises. Raffle tickets cost R50, with proceeds intended to support the conservation group’s research efforts.

For Algoa Bay Conservation, the ultimate goal is to help restore St. Croix Island’s African penguin population to its former status as one of the world’s leading breeding colonies.

But conservationists face a significant challenge: understanding the causes of the decline, identifying effective interventions and ensuring that any recovery plan is supported by sound scientific evidence.

The planned research could help clarify the environmental pressures facing the colony and strengthen the case for measures to protect the island and surrounding waters.

For now, the blank penguins on the conservation group’s display serve as a stark reminder of what has been lost and of the urgent work required to give the remaining birds a chance to recover. Friend said restoring the colony would be a long-term undertaking, requiring public support, scientific research and sustained conservation action.